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Could my 7 or so years worth the symptoms be the result of a thyroid disorder?
Disclaimer: I know you're not doctors and can't diagnose me. Please don't just tell me that and then leave. That's basically what people did when I posted in the migraine and neurology forums, and it's frustrating. I'm just asking as if, based on your knowledge, it sounds like there's a chance this could be a thyroid thing. I've been living my life in fear for many years convinced I have a brain tumor or aneurysm and am just trying to scope out some other possibilities, if there are any.
So, to start off, I'm 22 and female.
When I was about 14 years old, I bit into my lunch one day and noticed that the food tasted like nothing. My sense of taste was gone. This lasted for about 3 or 4 years. I still sometimes feel like I temporarily can't taste food, but my sense of taste has largely returned, I think (hard to say. after not having a sense of taste for 4 years, you forget what foods are 'supposed' to taste like). I had also begun having issues pronouncing certain words at this time, mostly words with s-sounds in them.
Then, when I was in my senior year of high school, I started experiencing blurry vision in the mornings and random dizzy spells that would last for a few seconds. At this time, I also noticed that my eyes would hurt REALLY bad when I first stepped outside in the morning. The brightness just strained my eyes, I guess. I saw a doctor for an unrelated knee issue at this time, told him I was getting dizzy throughout the day, and he essentially went, "Oh. Okay." So this convinced my dad I was making everything up.
Then when I started college, I developed this localized, incessant, excruciating pain in this spot on the back of my head. To this day, I still have this pain. Every once in a while, it's barely noticeable or not there, but it's there about 95% of the time. At first, I would lay in bed crying for hours because it hurt so bad, but now it's part of my normal and I've learned to deal with it. It's mostly in about the same area on the right side of the back of my skull, although lately sometimes it also hurts on the top of my head or on the left side near my ear, which has me scared that it's a tumor and it's spreading.
In addition, I've developed memory issues (I often forget what I'm doing in the middle of things and find that I can't remember things I learned a few months ago, whereas I never used to forget anything). I have trouble remembering words, an almost complete lack of concentration, balance issues, coordination issues, constant pressure in my chest, and these episodes where it feels like the blood is rushing from my head and I'm on the verge of passing out/losing consciousness. I often get this feeling like there's something stuck in my upper chest/throat, and I start gagging and trying to hack whatever it is up so I can breathe again. Sometimes, it feels like my ears are clogged with liquid, and sometimes it feels like my senses are extremely dulled...like I'm here but not really here because my bodily senses are so dulled; hard to explained. I also used to have noticeably shaky hands, although they've mostly subsided now. I'm sensitive to lights and, sometimes, sounds. I can't stand extremely hot or cold weather most of the time. I'm really depressed, but I mean, I think that's to be expected when you're trapped inside your bedroom with health problems all day long.
Oh, and when I was 18 just before I started college, I had this absolutely unbearable lower back pain for a few months. It felt as though there was a tennis ball in my lower back/spine a lot of the time. There were times when I was out with my family and I begged my dad to drive me home in tears because I just wanted to lay in bed and cry until the pain calmed down a bit. I don't know if that's related, though; that's gone, too.
I have what I describe as panic attacks, but I really don't know if that's what they are. I'm terrified of going in public because when I do, I often get this weird off-balanced feeling like I'm about to fall or pass out, my hands shake, I start sweating, I can't think straight, I feel trapped wherever I am, etc.
I've also been overweight ever since I was around 11 years old for the most part. Not to the point of obesity or anything, but at 144 and 5'0", I'm definitely overweight. I did start losing weight there for a while when I went through this health food phase and got down to about 130 and 5'0", but it came back.
I do not, however, have the thinning eyebrows so commonly associated with hypothyroidism.
So yeah. Could this all stem from a thyroid issue? Thanks in advance.
So, to start off, I'm 22 and female.
When I was about 14 years old, I bit into my lunch one day and noticed that the food tasted like nothing. My sense of taste was gone. This lasted for about 3 or 4 years. I still sometimes feel like I temporarily can't taste food, but my sense of taste has largely returned, I think (hard to say. after not having a sense of taste for 4 years, you forget what foods are 'supposed' to taste like). I had also begun having issues pronouncing certain words at this time, mostly words with s-sounds in them.
Then, when I was in my senior year of high school, I started experiencing blurry vision in the mornings and random dizzy spells that would last for a few seconds. At this time, I also noticed that my eyes would hurt REALLY bad when I first stepped outside in the morning. The brightness just strained my eyes, I guess. I saw a doctor for an unrelated knee issue at this time, told him I was getting dizzy throughout the day, and he essentially went, "Oh. Okay." So this convinced my dad I was making everything up.
Then when I started college, I developed this localized, incessant, excruciating pain in this spot on the back of my head. To this day, I still have this pain. Every once in a while, it's barely noticeable or not there, but it's there about 95% of the time. At first, I would lay in bed crying for hours because it hurt so bad, but now it's part of my normal and I've learned to deal with it. It's mostly in about the same area on the right side of the back of my skull, although lately sometimes it also hurts on the top of my head or on the left side near my ear, which has me scared that it's a tumor and it's spreading.
In addition, I've developed memory issues (I often forget what I'm doing in the middle of things and find that I can't remember things I learned a few months ago, whereas I never used to forget anything). I have trouble remembering words, an almost complete lack of concentration, balance issues, coordination issues, constant pressure in my chest, and these episodes where it feels like the blood is rushing from my head and I'm on the verge of passing out/losing consciousness. I often get this feeling like there's something stuck in my upper chest/throat, and I start gagging and trying to hack whatever it is up so I can breathe again. Sometimes, it feels like my ears are clogged with liquid, and sometimes it feels like my senses are extremely dulled...like I'm here but not really here because my bodily senses are so dulled; hard to explained. I also used to have noticeably shaky hands, although they've mostly subsided now. I'm sensitive to lights and, sometimes, sounds. I can't stand extremely hot or cold weather most of the time. I'm really depressed, but I mean, I think that's to be expected when you're trapped inside your bedroom with health problems all day long.
Oh, and when I was 18 just before I started college, I had this absolutely unbearable lower back pain for a few months. It felt as though there was a tennis ball in my lower back/spine a lot of the time. There were times when I was out with my family and I begged my dad to drive me home in tears because I just wanted to lay in bed and cry until the pain calmed down a bit. I don't know if that's related, though; that's gone, too.
I have what I describe as panic attacks, but I really don't know if that's what they are. I'm terrified of going in public because when I do, I often get this weird off-balanced feeling like I'm about to fall or pass out, my hands shake, I start sweating, I can't think straight, I feel trapped wherever I am, etc.
I've also been overweight ever since I was around 11 years old for the most part. Not to the point of obesity or anything, but at 144 and 5'0", I'm definitely overweight. I did start losing weight there for a while when I went through this health food phase and got down to about 130 and 5'0", but it came back.
I do not, however, have the thinning eyebrows so commonly associated with hypothyroidism.
So yeah. Could this all stem from a thyroid issue? Thanks in advance.
Because, when it comes down to it, I doubt I have a thyroid condition causing me to gain weight/preventing me from losing it. My symptoms are far too atypical of a thyroid condition. Yes, I may have had a good number of the symptoms on that list, but there are also probably 20 other symptoms I have that were never mentioned. I've been on a diet for 3 weeks and AM losing; it's just been slow. The prior experience thing isn't the only reason I want to eat healthy and lose weight before I go to a doctor; I just didn't explain my reasoning in full detail because it's complicated. Please don't try and convince me not to do this; I'm pretty decided already.
If you have a thyroid problem that is causing low metabolism and weight gain, why waste time trying to lose weight before going to the doctor? Just look the doctor in the eye and tell him you have multiple hypo symptoms and you want to get fully tested to determine what is needed to make you better, and that you want to be treated clinically. If you need support, take a friend with you. Don't be intimidated by such a dumb response from a prior doctor.
In the words of someone I respect highly, if you do what you did, you will get what you got. If you need help finding a prospect who might be a thyroid doctor, we can help with that. If you need references to scientific studies that point to the need to test for Free T3 and Free T4 and those other tests, we can help with that. What type of insurance do you have?
You have taken a good first step by finding this Forum and asking your questions. The bottom line is that we can help in many ways, as we have described, but you have to take the next step and get to a doctor.
In the words of someone I respect highly, if you do what you did, you will get what you got. If you need help finding a prospect who might be a thyroid doctor, we can help with that. If you need references to scientific studies that point to the need to test for Free T3 and Free T4 and those other tests, we can help with that. What type of insurance do you have?
You have taken a good first step by finding this Forum and asking your questions. The bottom line is that we can help in many ways, as we have described, but you have to take the next step and get to a doctor.
Thank you for the info about APS, Red_Star. I looked into the symptoms and found the part about mitro valve issues interesting. I've long wondered if I have a mitro valve prolapse given the constant pressure in my chest combined with the panic attacks. I recall watching a segment of either Oprah or The Dr. Oz Show several years back featuring a woman who thought she was having panic attacks for many years and found out her episodes were due to a mitro valve prolapse. A lot of the other symptoms sound like me as well, but as is the case with the 2324232 things I've considered, neurological symptoms are neurological symptoms are neurological symptoms.
Boy do I miss the days when finding out what I was sick with was as easy as "My throat hurts. I must have a throat infection."
Thank you for the list of things to have checked as well, gimel. As I think I mentioned earlier, I'm in the process of trying to lose weight before going to a doctor...bad experience with a doctor commenting on my weight in the past...but I will certainly keep your list in mind.
Boy do I miss the days when finding out what I was sick with was as easy as "My throat hurts. I must have a throat infection."
Thank you for the list of things to have checked as well, gimel. As I think I mentioned earlier, I'm in the process of trying to lose weight before going to a doctor...bad experience with a doctor commenting on my weight in the past...but I will certainly keep your list in mind.
In view of your history and all those hypo symptoms, I urge you to go and get tested for Free T3 and Free T4, as previously suggested. If the doctor resists, then you should insist on it and don't take no for an answer. The vast majority of doctors seem to have the "Immaculate TSH Belief" or only use "Reference Range Endocrinology". This doesn't work. In order to get the testing and treatment needed, patients have to be their own best advocate.
For example, in the UK, it is even harder to get properly tested and treated for thyroid problems. One of our UK members that was successful, told us how she was finally successful.
"What I have learned from my experience is that you have to go to the Dr's office and TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT and to go backed up with knowledge. You have to tell them that you have done your reading and looked into your condition and care about the long-term treatment of your health and thyroid. If you fight for what you want, you will eventually find someone that is happy to go along with your wishes. But we all have to take charge of our own health, right?"
Yes it would be wonderful if all doctors were good thyroid doctors and all we had to do was follow their instructions and everything worked out great. Unfortunately that is not the real world.
So please take the above recommendations to test for Free T3 and Free T4, and add Reverse T3, Vitamin A D, B12, ferritin, a full iron test panel, zinc, and selenium. In fact, I would go for the whole shot and also do these.
CBC or Complete Blood Count (includes RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCH)
Lipid panel (includes cholesterol, triglycerides)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (includes fasting glucose, sodium, potassium)
Morning cortisol (24-hr saliva labs preferred, but at least this gives one reading)
Estradiol (men and women; women should test on day 19-21 of their cycle, or 5-7 days after ovulation)
Progesterone (men and women; women should test on day 19-21 of their cycle, or 5-7 days after ovulation)
Total testosterone (men and women)
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG - men and women)
For example, in the UK, it is even harder to get properly tested and treated for thyroid problems. One of our UK members that was successful, told us how she was finally successful.
"What I have learned from my experience is that you have to go to the Dr's office and TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT and to go backed up with knowledge. You have to tell them that you have done your reading and looked into your condition and care about the long-term treatment of your health and thyroid. If you fight for what you want, you will eventually find someone that is happy to go along with your wishes. But we all have to take charge of our own health, right?"
Yes it would be wonderful if all doctors were good thyroid doctors and all we had to do was follow their instructions and everything worked out great. Unfortunately that is not the real world.
So please take the above recommendations to test for Free T3 and Free T4, and add Reverse T3, Vitamin A D, B12, ferritin, a full iron test panel, zinc, and selenium. In fact, I would go for the whole shot and also do these.
CBC or Complete Blood Count (includes RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCH)
Lipid panel (includes cholesterol, triglycerides)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (includes fasting glucose, sodium, potassium)
Morning cortisol (24-hr saliva labs preferred, but at least this gives one reading)
Estradiol (men and women; women should test on day 19-21 of their cycle, or 5-7 days after ovulation)
Progesterone (men and women; women should test on day 19-21 of their cycle, or 5-7 days after ovulation)
Total testosterone (men and women)
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG - men and women)
I had a look at your symptoms and one stands out as it is very rare: sudden onset ageusia (sudden complete loss of taste). So i checked that out and one condition shows up: Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS - also known as Hughes Syndrome). APS is an autoimmune disease and the treatment is an anticoagulant (blood thinner).
The antiphospholipid antibody is associated with a number of illnesses including a rare form of inflammation called transverse myelitis. I mention this condition as transverse myelitis states severe back pain may occur at the onset of the disease. Recovery from transverse myelitis usually begins between weeks 2 and 12 and may continue for up to 2 years in some patients. Hmmm interesting. Just a few ideas. :)
From the Hughes Syndrome Foundation symptoms page:
“It is not necessary to have ALL symptoms to be diagnosed with
Hughes Syndrome (antiphospholipid syndrome - APS)”
Hughes Syndrome (APS) is sometimes called 'sticky blood syndrome'. This is because people with it have an increased tendency to form clots in blood vessels (also known as thromboses). Any blood vessel can be affected including the veins and the arteries.
The main symptoms of Hughes Syndrome can include any of the following:
Headache or migraine
Giddiness
Memory loss
Visual disturbance
Skin disorders
Thrombosis - DVTs
Heart attack
Stroke
Pulmonary embolism
Multiple Sclerosis-like features
Gastrointestinal disorders
Pregnancy problems
The antiphospholipid antibody is associated with a number of illnesses including a rare form of inflammation called transverse myelitis. I mention this condition as transverse myelitis states severe back pain may occur at the onset of the disease. Recovery from transverse myelitis usually begins between weeks 2 and 12 and may continue for up to 2 years in some patients. Hmmm interesting. Just a few ideas. :)
From the Hughes Syndrome Foundation symptoms page:
“It is not necessary to have ALL symptoms to be diagnosed with
Hughes Syndrome (antiphospholipid syndrome - APS)”
Hughes Syndrome (APS) is sometimes called 'sticky blood syndrome'. This is because people with it have an increased tendency to form clots in blood vessels (also known as thromboses). Any blood vessel can be affected including the veins and the arteries.
The main symptoms of Hughes Syndrome can include any of the following:
Headache or migraine
Giddiness
Memory loss
Visual disturbance
Skin disorders
Thrombosis - DVTs
Heart attack
Stroke
Pulmonary embolism
Multiple Sclerosis-like features
Gastrointestinal disorders
Pregnancy problems
Sure. :)
My risk factors for hypothyroidism include:
____ I have a family history of thyroid disease
Not sure. My dad's side of the family is pretty obese as a general rule, so it's possible that some of them have problems, but I don't know.
____ I have had my thyroid "monitored" in the past to watch for changes
No, as I haven't been to a doctor in many years.
____ I had a previous diagnosis of goiters/nodules
No.
____ I currently have a goiter
I don't think so? I mentioned the gagging/feeling like there's something in my throat that I get up there, but I think goiter is more noticeable.
____ I was treated for hypothyroidism in the past
No.
____ I had post-partum thyroiditis in the past
No. Never been pregnant.
____ I had a temporary thyroiditis in the past
No, not that I'm aware of.
____ I have another autoimmune disease
Not that I'm aware of.
____ I have had a baby in the past nine months
No.
____ I have a history of miscarriage
Never been pregnant.
____ I have had part/all of my thyroid removed due to cancer
No.
____ I have had part/all of my thyroid removed due to nodules
No.
____ I have had part/all of my thyroid removed due to Graves' Disease/hyperthyroidism I have had radioactive iodine due to Graves' Disease/hyperthyroidism
No.
____ I have had anti-thyroid drugs due to Graves' Disease/hyperthyroidism
No.
I have the following symptoms of hypothyroidism, as detailed by the Merck Manual, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the Thyroid Foundation of America
__X_ I am gaining weight inappropriately
Potentially. I'm overweight, but I don't know if it's "inappropriately."
____ I'm unable to lose weight with diet/exercise.
Sort of, but not really. I've been dieting for 3 weeks and have lost around 6 lbs, so I can lose it, just very very slowly.
____ I am constipated, sometimes severely
No, not usually.
__X__ I have hypothermia/low body temperature (I feel cold when others feel hot, I need extra sweaters, etc.)
Sometimes. Other times it's the opposite.
_X___ I feel fatigued, exhausted
Also a sometimes thing.
__X__ Feeling run down, sluggish, lethargic
Sometimes.
__X__ My hair is coarse and dry, breaking, brittle, falling out
I think it *was* falling out, but it seems to have stopped.
____ My skin is coarse, dry, scaly, and thick
No.
__X__ I have a hoarse or gravely voice
Not necessarily gravely and hoarse, but I have a weak voice, I guess. Not sure if I should have checked this one. I can't project much at all. I also used to lose my voice frequently, but that was years ago.
____ I have puffiness and swelling around the eyes and face
I don't think so. My face is chubby, but so is the rest of me.
_X___ I have pains, aches in joints, hands and feet
They come and go.
____ I have developed carpal-tunnel syndrome, or it's getting worse
Potentially, but I don't think so. My wrist aches sometimes when I'm on the computer, but it's a rare thing.
____ I am having irregular menstrual cycles (longer, or heavier, or more frequent)
They're really short...about 3-4 days tops, but they've always been like that.
____ I am having trouble conceiving a baby
Wouldn't know.
__X__ I feel depressed
Very.
__X__ I feel restless
Unbearably so.
__X__ My moods change easily
Yes.
__X__ I have feelings of worthlessness
Frequently, but I think they're explainable, i.e. I can't do a lot of things I used to do, can't get a job, etc. so I feel useless as a person.
__X__ I have difficulty concentrating
Always.
___X_ I have more feelings of sadness
Yes.
__X__ I seem to be losing interest in normal daily activities
Yeah.
_X___ I'm more forgetful lately
Definitely.
I also have the following additional symptoms, which have been reported more frequently in people with hypothyroidism:
____ My hair is falling out
Not anymore.
__X__ I can't seem to remember things
Definitely.
____ I am getting more frequent infections, that last longer
I don't think so.
____ I'm snoring more lately
Don't think so, but I sleep alone.
____ I have/may have sleep apnea
Idk. My sleep schedule is definitely upside down.
__X__ I feel shortness of breath and tightness in the chest
Mostly tightness in the chest.
__X__ I feel the need to yawn to get oxygen
I get this sometimes.
____ My eyes feel gritty and dry
Nah.
__X__ My eyes feel sensitive to light
Extremely.
____ My eyes get jumpy/tics in eyes, which makes me dizzy/vertigo and have headaches
No.
__X__ I have strange feelings in neck or throat
Feels like there's a lump in there sometimes. I also get a burning sensation sometimes.
__X__ I have tinnitus (ringing in ears)
Not always. It was awful a weekish ago.
_X___ I get recurrent sinus infections
Potentially. I don't go to doctors, so I can't really diagnose them as stuff, but I do feel like there's congestion stopped up in my sinus cavity.
__X__ I have vertigo
Yes.
__X__ I feel some lightheadedness
Often. It's more of an off-balanced feeling, though.
__X__ I have severe menstrual cramps
I think these may be more due to a potential ovarian cyst, though, as there's this one spot where they always occur, and it doesn't really hurt anywhere else.
My risk factors for hypothyroidism include:
____ I have a family history of thyroid disease
Not sure. My dad's side of the family is pretty obese as a general rule, so it's possible that some of them have problems, but I don't know.
____ I have had my thyroid "monitored" in the past to watch for changes
No, as I haven't been to a doctor in many years.
____ I had a previous diagnosis of goiters/nodules
No.
____ I currently have a goiter
I don't think so? I mentioned the gagging/feeling like there's something in my throat that I get up there, but I think goiter is more noticeable.
____ I was treated for hypothyroidism in the past
No.
____ I had post-partum thyroiditis in the past
No. Never been pregnant.
____ I had a temporary thyroiditis in the past
No, not that I'm aware of.
____ I have another autoimmune disease
Not that I'm aware of.
____ I have had a baby in the past nine months
No.
____ I have a history of miscarriage
Never been pregnant.
____ I have had part/all of my thyroid removed due to cancer
No.
____ I have had part/all of my thyroid removed due to nodules
No.
____ I have had part/all of my thyroid removed due to Graves' Disease/hyperthyroidism I have had radioactive iodine due to Graves' Disease/hyperthyroidism
No.
____ I have had anti-thyroid drugs due to Graves' Disease/hyperthyroidism
No.
I have the following symptoms of hypothyroidism, as detailed by the Merck Manual, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the Thyroid Foundation of America
__X_ I am gaining weight inappropriately
Potentially. I'm overweight, but I don't know if it's "inappropriately."
____ I'm unable to lose weight with diet/exercise.
Sort of, but not really. I've been dieting for 3 weeks and have lost around 6 lbs, so I can lose it, just very very slowly.
____ I am constipated, sometimes severely
No, not usually.
__X__ I have hypothermia/low body temperature (I feel cold when others feel hot, I need extra sweaters, etc.)
Sometimes. Other times it's the opposite.
_X___ I feel fatigued, exhausted
Also a sometimes thing.
__X__ Feeling run down, sluggish, lethargic
Sometimes.
__X__ My hair is coarse and dry, breaking, brittle, falling out
I think it *was* falling out, but it seems to have stopped.
____ My skin is coarse, dry, scaly, and thick
No.
__X__ I have a hoarse or gravely voice
Not necessarily gravely and hoarse, but I have a weak voice, I guess. Not sure if I should have checked this one. I can't project much at all. I also used to lose my voice frequently, but that was years ago.
____ I have puffiness and swelling around the eyes and face
I don't think so. My face is chubby, but so is the rest of me.
_X___ I have pains, aches in joints, hands and feet
They come and go.
____ I have developed carpal-tunnel syndrome, or it's getting worse
Potentially, but I don't think so. My wrist aches sometimes when I'm on the computer, but it's a rare thing.
____ I am having irregular menstrual cycles (longer, or heavier, or more frequent)
They're really short...about 3-4 days tops, but they've always been like that.
____ I am having trouble conceiving a baby
Wouldn't know.
__X__ I feel depressed
Very.
__X__ I feel restless
Unbearably so.
__X__ My moods change easily
Yes.
__X__ I have feelings of worthlessness
Frequently, but I think they're explainable, i.e. I can't do a lot of things I used to do, can't get a job, etc. so I feel useless as a person.
__X__ I have difficulty concentrating
Always.
___X_ I have more feelings of sadness
Yes.
__X__ I seem to be losing interest in normal daily activities
Yeah.
_X___ I'm more forgetful lately
Definitely.
I also have the following additional symptoms, which have been reported more frequently in people with hypothyroidism:
____ My hair is falling out
Not anymore.
__X__ I can't seem to remember things
Definitely.
____ I am getting more frequent infections, that last longer
I don't think so.
____ I'm snoring more lately
Don't think so, but I sleep alone.
____ I have/may have sleep apnea
Idk. My sleep schedule is definitely upside down.
__X__ I feel shortness of breath and tightness in the chest
Mostly tightness in the chest.
__X__ I feel the need to yawn to get oxygen
I get this sometimes.
____ My eyes feel gritty and dry
Nah.
__X__ My eyes feel sensitive to light
Extremely.
____ My eyes get jumpy/tics in eyes, which makes me dizzy/vertigo and have headaches
No.
__X__ I have strange feelings in neck or throat
Feels like there's a lump in there sometimes. I also get a burning sensation sometimes.
__X__ I have tinnitus (ringing in ears)
Not always. It was awful a weekish ago.
_X___ I get recurrent sinus infections
Potentially. I don't go to doctors, so I can't really diagnose them as stuff, but I do feel like there's congestion stopped up in my sinus cavity.
__X__ I have vertigo
Yes.
__X__ I feel some lightheadedness
Often. It's more of an off-balanced feeling, though.
__X__ I have severe menstrual cramps
I think these may be more due to a potential ovarian cyst, though, as there's this one spot where they always occur, and it doesn't really hurt anywhere else.
The following link is the most comprehensive list of hypothyroid symptoms I've seen. Please have a look and tell us which ones you have.
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/hypochecklist.htm
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/hypochecklist.htm
As stated above, I haven't been to a doctor, but I have had people in my life suggest many of the same things. It's my diet? Really? Have you seen me eat? Most people I know live off of chips, soda, deli meats, and burgers. Whenever possible, I eat salads, fresh or frozen fruit, yogurt, baked chicken, brown rice, boiled eggs, nuts, and beans. Occasionally I eat a baked potato. I used to use olive oil on my salads, although recently I've begun using an olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing I found in the organic section of Kroger; maybe that's the problem? With the exception of the time I tried a recipe for homemade butterbeer, I haven't touched a soda in years, and, as of lately, I drink nothing but water and lots of it. But you're going to tell me my diet is to blame for all of this? Or that it's all in my head/I've gone crazy? Annoying.
It's bad, but I'd almost rather deal with the never-ending guessing game than it be a tumor. I imagine a brain tumor is a pretty straight forward thing to diagnose, but not so much a straight forward thing to treat.I just want to not be dying of a brain tumor/similar life threatening disease. But, of course, it doesn't really matter what I want.
It's bad, but I'd almost rather deal with the never-ending guessing game than it be a tumor. I imagine a brain tumor is a pretty straight forward thing to diagnose, but not so much a straight forward thing to treat.I just want to not be dying of a brain tumor/similar life threatening disease. But, of course, it doesn't really matter what I want.
I've been to more doctors than you can poke a stick at over the decades. Misdiagnosis central. So no doc it's not my diet, no i don't want to see a psychologist, no i don't want you to just hand me paperwork on what foods have iron in it, no i don't want a diagnosis of fibromyalgia especially when you didn't do a single test for it lol, no i don't want to be made to feel like i'm a hypochondriac..again. I want that magic word starting with D. Diagnosis. Never mind...i'll do it myself. It's called Google and it is literally a life saver! :)
I haven't had anything tested. I've avoided doctors mostly out of fear (and also embarrassment b/c of my weight, which I'm working on losing now), which I know is stupid, but it's what I've done. I don't know. I have this scenario in my head where they do an MRI and then tell me my whole brain has been infiltrated with a ginormous tumor or something, and that scares me, so I avoid it. Mine isn't really headaches. It's just pain/pressure in the back of my head. I think to classify it as a headache, it has to last a few hours/days/potentially weeks and then subside. Mine doesn't do that. Plus, most people are talking about forehead or maybe temple pain when they talk about headaches, not pain in the back of their skull.
Have you had an MRI of your brain?
I had severe headaches when I dealt with hper/graves, but they kept telling me it was from depression...
They finally figured it out...No more severe headaches.
I had severe headaches when I dealt with hper/graves, but they kept telling me it was from depression...
They finally figured it out...No more severe headaches.
Well, I won't be taking antidepressants anytime soon. I was a psych minor in college, and a lot of the side effects of psychiatric drugs worry me, particularly antidepressants. I become more anxiety-ridden when I so much as try a new sinus spray or food because I'm so afraid of what anything I put in my body will do to me, so I think going on antidepressants would just cause my anxiety to further skyrocket.
I haven't had anything tested, but I used to take B complex vitamins back when I was a vegetarian (I was until about 10 months ago) and take multivitamins with B12 in them fairly regularly now. Up until recently, I drank a lot of Vitamin Water, which is enriched with B-vitamins, too.
I don't know. I've had so many vitamin deficiencies suggested to me and have tried so many things...B12, D/D3, Zinc, Magnesium, CQ10, Holy Basil...nothing seemed to have much effect, so I doubt it's as simple as a deficiency, although I admittedly never stayed on anything long-term except the B12 and CQ10.
I haven't had anything tested, but I used to take B complex vitamins back when I was a vegetarian (I was until about 10 months ago) and take multivitamins with B12 in them fairly regularly now. Up until recently, I drank a lot of Vitamin Water, which is enriched with B-vitamins, too.
I don't know. I've had so many vitamin deficiencies suggested to me and have tried so many things...B12, D/D3, Zinc, Magnesium, CQ10, Holy Basil...nothing seemed to have much effect, so I doubt it's as simple as a deficiency, although I admittedly never stayed on anything long-term except the B12 and CQ10.
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Nothing should be ruled out until tested for and completely ruled out....... Not everyone who is dx'd with Lupus has that rash - my daughter doesn't. Every disease has a list of symptoms; you won't necessarily have every symptom on the list......and may only have some symptoms intermittently.
Yes, many doctors will look at you like you have 2 (or more) heads (been there, done that) and they will probably consider you a hypochondriac and/or want to toss anti-depressants, etc at you; however, if you think there's something you need to be tested for, you have to be your own advocate.... that's why you need to go in with information in hand to show them that they might be overlooking something.
I don't think your symptoms are specifically thyroid related, but because those tests are so simple to perform, why not get them done and over - that would be one condition ruled out, so you could move on to others?
We always have to consider that because we don't feel well and nobody wants to help us, our stress levels go higher and higher, so anxiety becomes a huge factor in how we feel. Again, been there, done that, but was finally dx'd with both Pernicious Anemia and Hashimotot's...... given proper treatment, I feel pretty good now, though I still have a lot of anxiety due to circumstances beyond my control.
Have you had vitamin B12 tested?
Yes, many doctors will look at you like you have 2 (or more) heads (been there, done that) and they will probably consider you a hypochondriac and/or want to toss anti-depressants, etc at you; however, if you think there's something you need to be tested for, you have to be your own advocate.... that's why you need to go in with information in hand to show them that they might be overlooking something.
I don't think your symptoms are specifically thyroid related, but because those tests are so simple to perform, why not get them done and over - that would be one condition ruled out, so you could move on to others?
We always have to consider that because we don't feel well and nobody wants to help us, our stress levels go higher and higher, so anxiety becomes a huge factor in how we feel. Again, been there, done that, but was finally dx'd with both Pernicious Anemia and Hashimotot's...... given proper treatment, I feel pretty good now, though I still have a lot of anxiety due to circumstances beyond my control.
Have you had vitamin B12 tested?
I was researching lupus a bit more and see that a very noticeable rash is a key symptom. Don't have that, so I guess that's unlikely as well.
I see. As I said, I don't know much about how medical testing works. I thought it was considered rude and just made you look like a hypochondriac who shouldn't be taken seriously to walk in there and start asking for tests without letting the doctor do their own guesswork first.Thanks for explaining that. :)
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While you're right, with you symptoms, there are a lot of things doctors would test you for, before thinking of thyroid, the tests are so simple and inexpensive, there's no reason not to rule it out first.
One more thing I miss: self-sufficiency.
Obviously I was never completely self-sufficient before all of this started; I was a minor. But I was always the one who had to watch after and help my siblings. I was the one who "chaperoned" them, drove them places, helped them with their homework, etc. while I was trusted/preferred to do things on my own. Now I'm calling them up asking if they'll drive to Wendy's to buy me a salad because I'm hungry, there's no food in the house, and I feel too sick to drive. Or trying to bribe my sister into coming with me to the grocery store because I feel a little bit safer if someone's with me to talk to and distract me from my "anxiety." I hate feeling unable to do even basic things myself. Heck, sometimes I'm afraid to get up out of my bed to grab a glass of water or go to the bathroom, so I sit there and wait until I feel a little less unbalanced/dizzy/"off."
Obviously I was never completely self-sufficient before all of this started; I was a minor. But I was always the one who had to watch after and help my siblings. I was the one who "chaperoned" them, drove them places, helped them with their homework, etc. while I was trusted/preferred to do things on my own. Now I'm calling them up asking if they'll drive to Wendy's to buy me a salad because I'm hungry, there's no food in the house, and I feel too sick to drive. Or trying to bribe my sister into coming with me to the grocery store because I feel a little bit safer if someone's with me to talk to and distract me from my "anxiety." I hate feeling unable to do even basic things myself. Heck, sometimes I'm afraid to get up out of my bed to grab a glass of water or go to the bathroom, so I sit there and wait until I feel a little less unbalanced/dizzy/"off."
Wow, you sound like my male twin. I completely relate to so much you're saying. My family, too, is doing better in a number of ways. They're always going on trips to amusement parks, and I make up some excuse to stay home and cry because what's the point if I can't go on any of the rides?
I agreed to go with them to Universal a few months ago because I really wanted to see the Harry Potter addition to the park, and I spent so much time waiting around while they rode rides. I wanted so badly to say, "Eff my body. I'm getting on The Hulk," but it's just not something I can risk when I don't know if I have a heart condition or blood clot in my brain or something. I went on the Spiderman ride and the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride to shut my family up and had to close my eyes during the rides for fear that the strobe lights would cause me to go into a seizure or just make me extremely ill (I've never had a seizure that I'm aware of; I realize not all seizures are grand mal, but it's a constant fear). When I got off the HP ride, it felt like the room was spinning, and it took me a long time to feel slightly better. Oh,I went on a log flume ride as well..threw up at the end of it. My siblings, of course, mocked me the whole time because they thought I was making it all up as usual. Then my family went to dinner at some upside down house thing that had funky flashing lights everywhere and "believe it or not" type exhibits. I wound up sitting downstairs crying while they took hours to finish all of the exhibits. Then we went to Seaworld the next day, went to some neon light show thing, and I walked out in the middle of the show b/c the strobe lights were worrying me. I also felt very "out of it" that day. We watched some show with a sea lion and pirates, and I could barely concentrate on the storyline of the show. I really miss feeling present and not up in the clouds somewhere.
I swear, if I get diagnosed with something a pill can easily treat, the first thing I'm doing is buying a ticket to an amusement park and riding all of the roller coasters. I know it sounds dumb, but it was one of my favorite feelings growing up, and I miss it so badly. I have pictures of me on roller coasters sitting around and look at them thinking I would give anything for coasters to not be this forbidden thing that would probably kill me if I got on one again. The next thing I would do is get on a dating site and go hang out with the first guy who contacts me and sounds interesting, lol. I really want to date, and I'm sick of people thinking I don't because I don't want to/can't find anybody.
I completely relate to this statement:
"I miss just being able to just relax maybe have a good night sleep and wake up to a safe world that is does not seem to be attacking me.
This stuff sounds strange coming from me,I was so happy before all of this."
Feeling safe in the world is definitely something I took for granted. If you would have told my preteen/teenage self I would be saying these things some day, I would have laughed in your face. The thought would sound far too inconceivable.
I'm glad to hear you're getting better. :) I hope I can someday, too. A large part of me doubts it and thinks this really is something along the lines of a brain tumor, but maybe not.
I agreed to go with them to Universal a few months ago because I really wanted to see the Harry Potter addition to the park, and I spent so much time waiting around while they rode rides. I wanted so badly to say, "Eff my body. I'm getting on The Hulk," but it's just not something I can risk when I don't know if I have a heart condition or blood clot in my brain or something. I went on the Spiderman ride and the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride to shut my family up and had to close my eyes during the rides for fear that the strobe lights would cause me to go into a seizure or just make me extremely ill (I've never had a seizure that I'm aware of; I realize not all seizures are grand mal, but it's a constant fear). When I got off the HP ride, it felt like the room was spinning, and it took me a long time to feel slightly better. Oh,I went on a log flume ride as well..threw up at the end of it. My siblings, of course, mocked me the whole time because they thought I was making it all up as usual. Then my family went to dinner at some upside down house thing that had funky flashing lights everywhere and "believe it or not" type exhibits. I wound up sitting downstairs crying while they took hours to finish all of the exhibits. Then we went to Seaworld the next day, went to some neon light show thing, and I walked out in the middle of the show b/c the strobe lights were worrying me. I also felt very "out of it" that day. We watched some show with a sea lion and pirates, and I could barely concentrate on the storyline of the show. I really miss feeling present and not up in the clouds somewhere.
I swear, if I get diagnosed with something a pill can easily treat, the first thing I'm doing is buying a ticket to an amusement park and riding all of the roller coasters. I know it sounds dumb, but it was one of my favorite feelings growing up, and I miss it so badly. I have pictures of me on roller coasters sitting around and look at them thinking I would give anything for coasters to not be this forbidden thing that would probably kill me if I got on one again. The next thing I would do is get on a dating site and go hang out with the first guy who contacts me and sounds interesting, lol. I really want to date, and I'm sick of people thinking I don't because I don't want to/can't find anybody.
I completely relate to this statement:
"I miss just being able to just relax maybe have a good night sleep and wake up to a safe world that is does not seem to be attacking me.
This stuff sounds strange coming from me,I was so happy before all of this."
Feeling safe in the world is definitely something I took for granted. If you would have told my preteen/teenage self I would be saying these things some day, I would have laughed in your face. The thought would sound far too inconceivable.
I'm glad to hear you're getting better. :) I hope I can someday, too. A large part of me doubts it and thinks this really is something along the lines of a brain tumor, but maybe not.
One more thing that you might find useful.
I had no swelling of my thyroid at all.
No physical signs of thyroid problems except for shaky hands(which I have always had)and a high heart rate.
I had no swelling of my thyroid at all.
No physical signs of thyroid problems except for shaky hands(which I have always had)and a high heart rate.
the more you say the more I think its your thyroid.
I haven't had the easiest life myself,don't really want to say.but its similar to your situation.
But I never really cared much about family troubles,I was happy and that's all I needed.
Now everything is coming together my family is at a nice place right now,I should be happier then ever but I have this problem now that is ruining my life.
I know its not a mental problem,normal mental stuff is simple this is not.
This type of anxiety is forced and not self induced.
I tried to be normal I acted like nothing was wrong,said it was all in my mind and tried to do the things I love doing but It didn't help.
I am a lot better now though.
My type of thyroid problem is temporary and seems to be going away,there is a possibility of it being permanent but I hope not.
even if its not permanent I know I will never be the same again,I'm just hoping I will reach a new type of comfortable normal.
somewhere safe where I'm not scared of dying,where I could just relax and enjoy life once again.
I miss just being able to just relax maybe have a good night sleep and wake up to a safe world that is does not seem to be attacking me.
This stuff sounds strange coming from me,I was so happy before all of this.
I haven't had the easiest life myself,don't really want to say.but its similar to your situation.
But I never really cared much about family troubles,I was happy and that's all I needed.
Now everything is coming together my family is at a nice place right now,I should be happier then ever but I have this problem now that is ruining my life.
I know its not a mental problem,normal mental stuff is simple this is not.
This type of anxiety is forced and not self induced.
I tried to be normal I acted like nothing was wrong,said it was all in my mind and tried to do the things I love doing but It didn't help.
I am a lot better now though.
My type of thyroid problem is temporary and seems to be going away,there is a possibility of it being permanent but I hope not.
even if its not permanent I know I will never be the same again,I'm just hoping I will reach a new type of comfortable normal.
somewhere safe where I'm not scared of dying,where I could just relax and enjoy life once again.
I miss just being able to just relax maybe have a good night sleep and wake up to a safe world that is does not seem to be attacking me.
This stuff sounds strange coming from me,I was so happy before all of this.
I'm also afraid that, if I am by some miracle diagnosed with something completely treatable, I'll never be the person I was again. I don't remember what it's like to eat something because I'm craving it rather than because I read that it contains some nutrient that my body likely needs (or not eat it because when I eat it, it amplifies my symptoms). Nor do I remember how to do much of anything without constantly paying attention to my bodily sensations and praying my body doesn't crap out on me. I barely know who I am anymore because I spent so many years avoiding everything I used to enjoy and letting people believe I no longer enjoyed them since I no longer engaged in them (I was a very active, thrill-seeking person). I don't know. It'd be interesting.
I've considered diabetes, heart problems, tumors in various parts of my body, hypochondria, MS, and a million other ailments, too (including chiari malformation, cerebral aneurysm, congestive heart failure, lyme as mentioned above, Hashimoto's and hyperthyroid in addition to hypothyroid, generalized anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, a multitude of deficiencies, chronic fatigue syndrome, a stroke, epilepsy, tongue cancer, etc). You name it, I've diagnosed myself with it at some point.
I, too, was pretty happy before all of this started. Well, I wasn't *that* happy because I grew up in a house full of physical abuse and run-ins with DFCS galore, but I never felt as though I was clinically depressed or anything despite all of that. So for people to brush me off as a case of depression or anxiety is, not only hard to believe, but also a bit insulting. I could be wrong, but I just don't think I've ever been the type to wake up one day with crippling anxiety that's so bad that it makes my head feel like someone pierced it with a knife and turn my memory so bad that I barely remember anything anymore. I was a completely fearless kid. Nothing scared me. I road my bike up and down extremely steep dirt bike hills without a helmet, rode the largest roller coasters 5+ times in a row, and, when I was old enough to drive, went shopping in the seediest areas of town alone at night without thinking much of it. I just don't see myself as the type to develop anxiety unprovoked. Now, if years of worrying about my health have led to an anxiety disorder, that's a different story.
I, too, was pretty happy before all of this started. Well, I wasn't *that* happy because I grew up in a house full of physical abuse and run-ins with DFCS galore, but I never felt as though I was clinically depressed or anything despite all of that. So for people to brush me off as a case of depression or anxiety is, not only hard to believe, but also a bit insulting. I could be wrong, but I just don't think I've ever been the type to wake up one day with crippling anxiety that's so bad that it makes my head feel like someone pierced it with a knife and turn my memory so bad that I barely remember anything anymore. I was a completely fearless kid. Nothing scared me. I road my bike up and down extremely steep dirt bike hills without a helmet, rode the largest roller coasters 5+ times in a row, and, when I was old enough to drive, went shopping in the seediest areas of town alone at night without thinking much of it. I just don't see myself as the type to develop anxiety unprovoked. Now, if years of worrying about my health have led to an anxiety disorder, that's a different story.
what....,I also thought I had a brain tumor because of weird feeling on the right front side of my head and I was ecstatically happy when I first got diagnosed with a thyroid problem.I was like I knew I had a thyroid problem!
even though I was contemplating having almost every kind of illness ranging from thinking is this diabetes,a heart problem,tumor,mental problems,hypochondria,MS I looked at almost everything online and the one thing that stuck was a thyroid problem.
I have been mostly a happy person before this and never had any mental problems or depression or anything before this, so I thought it has to be a tumor making me feel so odd.
even though I was contemplating having almost every kind of illness ranging from thinking is this diabetes,a heart problem,tumor,mental problems,hypochondria,MS I looked at almost everything online and the one thing that stuck was a thyroid problem.
I have been mostly a happy person before this and never had any mental problems or depression or anything before this, so I thought it has to be a tumor making me feel so odd.
Ah, I see. I don't really know how all of this medical testing works, especially since I haven't been to a doctor since I was 17.
It's interesting. Most people would never in a million years want to hear they have something like lupus. After convincing myself I'm dying of a brain tumor, I'd probably jump for joy.
It's interesting. Most people would never in a million years want to hear they have something like lupus. After convincing myself I'm dying of a brain tumor, I'd probably jump for joy.
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